Apartur warns that banning tourist apartments will leave one in four Mobile congress attendees without a bed

BarcelonaThe employers' association of tourist apartments continues to pressure to prevent the elimination of this type of offer in Barcelona and its surroundings from 2028. This Monday they did so by using Mobile congress attendees as a battering ram against the ban. The president of Apartur, Enrique Alcántara, and the general director, Marian Muro, have presented data from a GAD3 survey among attendees of the last Mobile to argue that congress attendees are against the prohibition of tourist apartments. Specifically, they point out that only 3% of attendees defend the prohibition of tourist apartments.

The survey, based on 650 interviews with Mobile attendees, concludes that 24% of Mobile congress attendees have stayed in a tourist apartment during the last congress. "One out of every four congress attendees would not have accommodation to go to the Mobile if tourist apartments are banned," warned Alcántara. The figure, however, is lower than what Apartur had previously put on the table. In November, Muro had estimated that 52,000 congress attendees could be left without a bed, which represented almost 40% of Mobile attendees.

When asked about this difference, Alcántara and Muro clarified that the 40% figure included not only congress attendees, but all visitors who stay in tourist apartments during the Mobile, regardless of whether they are in Barcelona for the congress or not.

Alcántara emphasized that more than half of those surveyed consider it "probable" to stay in a tourist apartment in future editions of the congress. This figure is higher among those who have already opted for this option and plan to repeat. "Those who have used a tourist apartment repeat," argued the president of Apartur, who stressed that satisfaction is higher among those who have stayed in tourist apartments than those who have spent the night in hotels. "They value above all the quality-price ratio, the space, and the comfort," he said.

Against regulation

The survey also asked congress members for their opinion on the willingness of Barcelona and other municipalities in the Barcelona metropolitan area to eliminate tourist housing licenses starting in November 2028. Regarding this aspect, only 3% of respondents are in favor of the measure. On the contrary, 59% are in favor of regulating them "proportionately," while 25% believe they should compete freely with hotels.